Centura Health, Colorado’s largest health care provider, is teaming up with Safeway pharmacies to provide free heart screenings on Friday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Safeway stores located in Canon City, Colorado Springs, Conifer, Denver, Evergreen, Federal Heights, Frisco, Lakewood, Littleton, Parker, Pueblo, and Superior. The free 10-minute heart screenings (vary by location) may include a heart risk assessment, blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) as well as discussion with a health care provider.
Local EMS and Centura Health heart experts and providers will be on hand to talk about dealing with cardiac emergencies and about recognition, prevention and early detection of heart attacks. Centura Health, along with its Heart Attack Network, a component of Centura Health’s Colorado Cardiac and Vascular Network, is hosting the events to encourage Coloradans to assess their heart health and prevent heart disease. The goal of the Heart Attack Network is to spread the message of wellness by improving recognition of symptoms, training residents in CPR and encouraging people to eat healthier and exercise more in an effort prevent heart attacks before they happen.
For more information about the heart screenings, visit www.centura.org/heart or call 303-777-NURS in Metro Denver or 800-327-6877 outside Metro Denver.
FACTS ON HEART DISEASE IN COLORADO
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment:
- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Colorado. On average one Coloradan dies every hour due to cardiovascular disease.
- Cardiovascular Disease is a broad diagnosis category that encompasses ischemic heart disease (heart attack), stroke, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease as well as diseases of the arteries, veins and circulatory systems.
- Of all deaths in Colorado, 6,403 (22 percent) were due to heart disease, the leading cause of death in Colorado; 1,907 (6.5 percent) were due to stroke, the third leading cause of death in Colorado; and 1,015 (3.5 percent) were due to heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, and diseases of the arteries, veins and circulatory systems.
ABOUT THE CENTURA HEALTH HEART ATTACK NETWORK
- Leveraging the strength of a network, rather than one facility, Centura Health participates in national research databases to continue to refine national benchmarks, best practices and care.
- Prevention and early education are essential components to the Centura Health Heart Attack Network and include:
- Prevention: The Porter Cardiac Early Detection Program at Porter Adventist Hospital uses advanced testing to identify and treat arterial plaque, a major indicator of future heart attack and stroke. The program offers a multidisciplinary approach to care through collaboration between the patient, the program provider, the radiologist, the cardiologist and the cardiac nurse practitioner.
- Education: Statewide and local resources exist for patients and emergency responders to improve the recognition of symptoms, and facilitate the steps necessary for life-saving treatment. For free, consumers can access an online heart risk assessment tool.
- Partnership: Emergency responders and Centura Health have partnered across the state to evaluate and streamline emergency heart care. We share one goal – the best care available across the mountains and plains.
- With all cardiac catheterization laboratories exceeding national standards for heart attack intervention in less than 90 minutes, Centura Health is setting the standard for both the state and nation. In fact, several Centura Health facilities rank in the top one percent of hospitals in the country in rapidity of heart attack care.
- Through the use of its innovative telehealth program, Centura Health at Home has reduced hospital re-admissions to eight percent, well below the national average, by managing patients with chronic heart disease.
QUOTES:
- “The Heart Attack Network is about bringing partners and resources together to prevent heart attacks before they happen through increased education and awareness,” said Jeffrey Woods, director of Cardiovascular Services at Centura Health. “These events are another way we’re joining people in their communities, outside of the walls of our hospital, to celebrate Centura Health’s vision of health care, one that is accessible to all people, in all stages of life.”
- “We’re excited to host this event with Centura Health, and to offer the heart screenings to our customers,” said Brian Pavur, director of pharmacy for Safeway. “Like Centura Health, we encourage the people in our communities to take a proactive approach to managing their health, and this event provides a wonderful opportunity to get educated on staying healthy for the future.”
INTERVIEWS:
- Interviews are available upon request with:
- Jeffrey Woods, director of Cardiovascular Services, Centura Health
For more information about the Centura Health network of care, visit www.centura.org.
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